For the past 26 years, the Santa Barbara Police Activities League has been able to assist families in receiving something special for the holiday season. This wonderful tradition supports the most at-need families in our community.

Be a Holiday Hero for a Local Family This Season

BECOME A HOLIDAY HERO

Holiday Heroes is an opportunity for individuals, teams, companies, and organizations to help bring holiday joy to local families in need. Every gift—large or small—makes a meaningful difference.

Families are identified and referred through partnering community agencies. You can choose the way that works best for you:

  • Shop for a family: Purchase age-appropriate, unwrapped gifts for every child in one family.'

  • Give a gift card: Gift cards are a wonderful option, especially for older children ages 14–17.

  • Make a donation: SBPAL will do the shopping and help provide gifts, treats, activities, meals, and transportation.

Please Note: Some donors choose to provide additional gifts or include something for the adults, but this is completely optional. Your generosity helps make the holiday season brighter for an entire family.

BECOME A HOLIDAY HERO

Winter Wonderland is a joyful holiday celebration for local families referred by community partner agencies. Your donation helps create a meaningful experience for children and families by supporting:

  • Holiday gifts for children, including special gifts for older youth

  • Festive treats and meals for families to enjoy together

  • Holiday activities and creative workshops

  • Transportation to help families attend the celebration

  • Decorations, supplies, and event expenses that bring Winter Wonderland to life

  • Gift wrapping and family support before and during the event

Every contribution helps make the holidays brighter and ensures families can experience the joy, warmth, and magic of the season.

Our 2025 event featured the following highlights:

  • 80 gifts distributed!

  • 47 families supported and celebrated with love - each were adopted by an SBPAL supporter or sponsored directly by members of Santa Barbara Police Department.

  • 130 attendees shared in the holiday spirit together.

  • 10 years strong—El Pastorcito Taqueria delighted us with their traditional, delicious catering.

  • Thank you to our other community partners who provided free support for this event: event photos captured by R|G Photography, photobooth services provided by Pixel Images, stuffed animals donated by PetSmart Santa Barbara and Goleta, and entertainment provided by DJ Orbs aka Saul Serrano with a live performance by Adriana Reyna.

  • Countless hours of gift wrapping by incredible volunteers—thank you for your dedication!

  • Generous community members fulfilled children’s wishlists.

  • Our Youth Leadership Council and UCSB ROTC were behind the event's success.

Stay tuned for opportunities to participate in our 2026 Winter Wonderland festivities!

Sponsorship Opportunities coming fall 2026

Thank You to Our 2025 Holiday Heroes

Donald & Beverly Perkins

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Page Plowman

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Kelsea King

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Andy Hill

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Chris & Brooke Payne

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Antonio Montojo

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Rene Eyerly

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Kristin Wilson

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Kathleen Lovett Abney

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Edward Jones - Kane Financial Group

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P&C General Contracting LLC

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Paul Uyesaka

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Brian D'Amour

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Donald & Beverly Perkins 🎁 Page Plowman 🎁 Kelsea King 🎁 Andy Hill 🎁 Chris & Brooke Payne 🎁 Antonio Montojo 🎁 Rene Eyerly 🎁 Kristin Wilson 🎁 Kathleen Lovett Abney 🎁 Edward Jones - Kane Financial Group 🎁 P&C General Contracting LLC 🎁 Paul Uyesaka 🎁 Brian D'Amour 🎁

Two young adults in navy shirts demonstrate cotton candy making at a booth to two children and an adult. The booth has a cotton candy machine, colorful marshmallow trees, and boxes of floss sugar on a navy tablecloth.
A man is smiling and talking to three girls at a holiday event, with a Christmas tree in the background. One girl is dressed in a festive sweater, another in a black dress, and the third in a green velvet Santa costume with a hat.
A woman dressed in a festive green and white Christmas outfit holding a microphone and smiling beside a police officer in uniform decorated with colorful holiday lights during a holiday event in a decorated hall.
A woman in a red blazer and black shorts giving a thumbs-up on stage, speaking into a microphone decorated with red tinsel. A DJ is behind her at a table with equipment, and a yellow water bottle is on a nearby table. The stage has dark curtains and
A woman wearing a Christmas hat and a patterned shirt serving food at a holiday gathering, with Christmas stockings and decorations in the background.
A woman in a Christmas sweater with green bows stands next to a police officer wearing a Santa hat, both smiling outdoors at night.
People standing in line at a buffet during a holiday gathering in a decorated room.
A young woman smiling and wearing a navy blue shirt with a name tag that says 'Ava', standing next to Santa Claus dressed in a traditional red velvet suit with a white beard, in a warmly lit room.
A Christmas celebration with a man dressed as Santa Claus, a police officer, and a man seated at a decorated holiday event. Santa and the police officer are standing behind the seated man, all smiling in a banquet hall filled with people, Christmas d
A man and a police officer wearing Christmas lights around her neck, both smiling for a photo indoors during a holiday gathering, with a decorated Christmas tree and other people in the background.
A young girl dressed as Christmas lights and a Christmas hat is wrapped in toilet paper, acting as a snowman, during a holiday event. Two women, one in a Santa hat and a police officer in a Santa hat, are helping her with the wrapping.
Children and police officers participating in a holiday-themed event, with some children dressed as holiday characters and others wearing festive accessories, as police officers assist and supervise. A DJ or music setup is on stage in the background.
Three young women standing side by side against a beige wall. They are wearing matching navy blue shirts with a logo on the chest and name tags. All three are wearing blue gloves and smiling at the camera.
Children and police officers gather around a man dressed as Santa Claus during a Christmas event, with a decorated Christmas tree and gifts in the background.
A police officer and Santa Claus are interacting with a child dressed in Christmas lights and decorations, who is wrapped in white paper resembling a gift or mummy, in a festive room with holiday decorations.
Group of children and police officers celebrating Christmas with Christmas-themed costumes and decorations, including a Christmas tree, with a stage and a DJ in the background.
A young boy with face paint is holding a large Christmas gift bag while standing at the doorway, smiling. Two women and another girl are in the background, looking at him and smiling, with Christmas decorations and a decorated fireplace behind them.
Three police officers holding wrapped Christmas presents in front of a holiday mantle with stockings, ornaments, and tinsel, surrounded by stuffed animals and Christmas decorations.
Police officers and a girl exchanging Christmas gifts in a decorated room with stockings and stockings hanging on the fireplace.
Young girl with reindeer antlers headband and face paint holding a large wrapped Christmas gift, surrounded by others with presents, in a Christmas party setting.
Two young girls holding wrapped Christmas presents, standing in front of a decorated fireplace with stockings and festive decor.
A smiling female Santa Barbara police officer holding a large wrapped Christmas gift in a room decorated with holiday-themed presents.
A young girl in a festive outfit holding a large wrapped Christmas gift, standing next to a police officer in front of a decorated fireplace with Christmas stockings and plush toys.
A group of five young adults standing indoors behind a table, smiling at the camera.
Group of children and police officers smiling in front of a Christmas fireplace with wrapped presents and holiday decorations.
A police officer gives a wrapped Christmas gift to a smiling boy during a holiday event, with another officer holding more presents and Christmas decorations in the background.
Two female police officers wearing black uniforms and tactical vests, smiling and standing indoors in front of a fireplace decorated for Christmas with stockings, ornaments, and a teddy bear.
A young boy with face paint smiles as he rides a small bicycle during a holiday event with police officers present. One officer smiles at the boy. The room has yellow walls and wooden floors, with several people, including police officers and civilia
Child riding a bicycle indoors during a holiday event, with police officers and adults present, some holding gift bags.
Police officers handing out Christmas gifts to community members during a holiday event.
Children and adults at a holiday party, with two kids in the foreground dressed in festive clothing and face paint, and a fireplace with stockings and decorations in the background.
A Santa Barbara police officer smiling and handing a wrapped gift to a girl during a holiday event, with other children and a woman in festive attire in the background.
Police officers and children exchanging gifts during a holiday celebration in a decorated indoor space.
Family gathers in front of a decorated fireplace with Christmas stockings, ornaments, and plush toys, celebrating around a wrapped gift.
Group of four police officers and two children standing next to wrapped Christmas presents in a decorated indoor setting.